BY JEANNE WILLARD
Staff writer
SOUTH DAYTONA -
Councilwoman Nancy
Long will use her educa-
tional expertise as the
city's newly appointed
member of the Volusia
County School District's
oversight committee for
public school planning.
Council members
unanimously recom-
mended Ms. Long at last
week's council meeting,
recognizing her many
years as an educator.
"Her background is
extensive in this field,"
Mayor Blaine O'Neal

said. "I think she would
be a good representa-
tive."
The committee, man-
dated by state legisla-

tion, requires cities and
counties to adopt rules
regarding school con-
currency issues, which is
the impact of new devel-
opment on local school
capacity, said Saralee
Morrissey, director of
site acquisition and
intergovernmental coor-
dination for Volusia
County schools.
A former middle
school teacher, Ms. Long
teaches at Bethune-
Cookman University and
said she is supportive of
the committee's goals..
"I'm excited," Ms.
Long said. "It forces

developers to make sure
there is accountably and
a place for the schools."
Just as government
agencies are required to
evaluate the impact of
new development on
water, sewer and roads,
the same scrutiny will
now be given to schools
- a new role for the
school district, Ms. Mor-
rissey said.
"We have not histori-
cally been involved in
development," she said.
"It's an attempt to marry
school planning and

I See LONG, A10

WALKING THE DOG

Kim Texter of Port
Orange gives Molly a
bandana to wear as she
walks through crowd
during Adopt-a-thon
Jan. 12, at Mr. Petman
Super Center in South
Daytona.

Beverly Alvarez-Daly
staff photographer

FRIDAY, January18, 2008

Burglaries,

vandalism

plague

residents

Neighbors
help neighbors
BY JEANNE WILLARD
Staff writer
PONCE INLET Local resi-
dents weren't feeling the holiday
cheer when they returned home
after the holidays to find their
homes burglarized or mail boxes
trashed.
The town saw a rash of vandal-
ism and burglaries during the
end of December and through
the beginning of the New Year,
said Ponce Inlet Detective Max
Binz.
In the case of the two burgla-
ries that occurred on Coastal
Oaks Drive and Marsh Court,
residents were out of town when
the break-ins occurred, he said.
Thieves used bags and con-
tainers found on the property to
remove stolen goods.
Police arrived at the Marsh
Court home Christmas morning
within a minute of receiving a
report of a break-in, Detective
Binz said, but the suspect had
already left, leaving behind a
broken window and trashed
home.
Residents also reported
numerous vandalism incidents
including trashed mail boxes,
smashed car windows and slash-
ing of inflatable holiday decora-
tions.
It's more difficult to catch the
culprits in these cases, Detective
Binz said, it's usually a spur of the
moment decision by the perpe-
trator.
"Vandalism is a crime of
opportunity," he said. "Very
rarely is there evidence left
behind."
Rains Court resident Harriet
Kean said her mailbox was dam-
aged while she and her husband
John were out of town, but
neighbors replaced the box
before they returned.
"They got us a new one,"
Mrs. Kean said. "They are won-
derful."
With a full-time, fully accredit-
I See BURGLARIES A4

Highwaymen's legacy: Post-war Florida landscape

Painting out
of poverty

BY JEANNE WILLARD
Staff writer

PORT ORANGE It's like-
ly that a group of post
World War II artists were
destined to fade into Flori-
da's crimson sunset as
surely as alligator farms
and road-side orange
groves, if not for a local col-
lege professor.
In 2001, Gary Monroe's
book The Highwaymen:
Florida's African-American
Landscape Painters, pub-
lished by the University
Press of Florida, caused a
renewed interest in a group
of self-taught black artists
who painted quintessential
Florida landscapes from
the 1950s until the early
80s.
Mr. Monroe, writer, pho-

tographer and professor at
Daytona Beach College,
said he didn't expect his
book about a little-known
group of painters to attract
much interest. However,
the more than 100 people
attending his recent lecture
at the Port Orange Library
and a publisher's first run
of 5,000 copies attest to a
cultural phenomenon that
caught the attention of col-
lectors, pushing prices sky-
high.
"It's a great story," Mr.
Monroe said. "These paint-
ings have become so
incredibly valuable."
The Highwaymen, who
weren't named until 1994,
began near Ft. Pierce, Fl.,
when a young black man,
Alfred Hair, began taking
painting lessons from
prominent white artist A. E.
Backus, whose Florida
landscapes commanded
$250 at the time, Mr. Mon-
roe said.

Beverly Alvarez-Daly/staff photographer
Historian and author Gary Monroe recently gave a lecture at the Port Orange Public
Library about the Highwaymen, a group of black artists in thel950s who taught them-
selves to paint Florida landscapes. Ponce Inlet resident Anne Peacock-Jacobs is an avid
collector.

Harold Newton, another
young black artist also was
influenced by Mr. Backus

and began to
scapes.
Mr. Hair

paint land-

friends, including Mr. New-

recruited I See HIGHWAYMEN, A4

Free Mortgage/Rent Payment Sweepstakes is a promotion of Riverside National Bank of Florida. The promotion starts at 12:00:01 a.m. on January 11, 2008, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. on March 31, 2008. The promotion is open to all legal residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older
on January 11, 2008, excluding employees of Riverside National Bank of Florida and their immediate families. No purchase is necessary to enter. Further details, including the official rules, are available at any Riverside Bank branch location and at vww.riversidenb.com. Promotion is void where prohibited.
almom.

A2Port Orange/Ponce Inlet
A2So Daytona/Daytona Beach Shores

Hometown News

Friday, January 18, 2008

I-

CELEBRATING THE ARTS

Randy Barber/staff photographer
Artist Jon Miller of Port Orange won an achievement award for his acrylic painting entitled, 'Intrigue,' during the 77th
annual Member's Juried Exhibition at The Art League of Daytona Beach.

Pat Zalisko, right, of
Port Orange shuffles
through tissue paper to
create her art piece during
a recent mixed-medium
class at the Artists' Work-
shop. The workshop,
located on Canal Street in
New Smyrna Beach, is
celebrating its 50th year.

Town to lose
$30K in special
event fees
BY JEANNE WILLARD
Staff writer
PONCE INLET Residents
in search of Lady Luck will
have to travel more than 70
miles south to find off-shore
boat gambling with the recent
closing of the Sun Cruz Casino
ship.
Patrons, employees and
residents were surprised by
Oceans Casino Cruises' sud-
den announcement to lay off
100 employees and cease
gambling operations after 11
years, resulting in a loss of
$30,000 in annual special-
events fees to the seaside
town.
Town manager Kassandra
Blissett said the loss of rev-
enue on the town's general
fund budget of $5.7 million
would be minimal.
Meanwhile the impact on
employees was immediate.
"It's over," said Marilyn
Spensley, a bartender, as she
left an employee meetingwith
management last week.
The New Smyrna Beach
resident, who logged 10 years
working on the ship, said she
received two weeks severance
pay, insurance coverage
through the end of the month
and will be paid for unused
vacation days.
Ms. Spensley said lack of

Beverly Alvarez-Daly/staff photographer
New Smyrna Beach resident Marilyn Spensley is one of 100 Sun Cruz Casino employ-
ees laid off. The ship, which sailed out of Ponce Inlet, made its last voyage Jan. 6.

dredging in the inlet prevent-
ed the ship from sailing on a
regular basis.
"That's what killed our busi-
ness," she said.
Gary Inks, Oceans
spokesman, confirmed that
operations were hampered by
the channel becoming
increasingly filled with silt and
sand.
"Our schedule the past year
was based on the tide," he
said, causing departure times
to change or be delayed,
something that's not con-
ducive to retaining customers.
Lyder Johnson, owner of
Down the Hatch Restaurant
and property that the Sun
Cruz ship operated out of,
said the effect of not dredging
the waterway goes beyond
the gambling ship closing,
-impacting tourism, fishing
and recreational boating.
"It potentially has a major
impact on the Volusia County
economy," he said.
Oceans operates gambling
cruises in four other Florida
cities as well as Myrtle Beach,
SC., and employees were
given the opportunity to
transfer to another port,
including its flagship site in
Pait Canaveral, Mr. Inks said.
Customers visiting the Port
Canaveral site will retain all
Players Club credits, he

added.
Ms. Spensley said she won't
pursue a position with the
Port Canaveral ship due to the
commute and may look for
another line of work.
"I've been rocking" for 10
years," she said. "I'm done."
Previous owners, Tropic
Casino Cruise, doing business
as Sun Cruz, encountered
rough sailing when it first
began its Ponce Inlet opera-
tion in 1997.
Many residents opposed
the size of the boat and steady
stream of traffic, including
bus loads of senior citizens
arriving for the twice-a-day
cruises.
A lawsuit filed by Tropic,
claiming officials were trying
to run them out of town, led to
a 1999 settlement requiring
Ponce Inlet to pay $50,000 to
the boat operator, said Town
Manager Kassandra Blissett.
Five years later, Oceans
purchased the assets of bank-
rupt Sun Cruz Casinos, keep-
ing the brand name, and con-
tinued to sail out of the Ponce
Inlet dock until its final cruise
on Jan. 6, with customers
drawn from the greater Day-
tona Beach area, Mr. Inks said.
The departure drew mixed
reactions from residents and
customers.
"I don't see any purpose in

having it," said Councilman
Jim Hinson. "I'm glad it's
gone."
However, one lucky Port
Orange resident will be sorry
to see the boat leave.
Ron, who would only give
his first name, was a regular,
boarding the gambling ship
several times a week and was
well-known for his luck.
In fact, his picture, showing
him receiving an $18,750 jack-
pot graces the back of Sun
Cruz buses that transport
gamblers to the port.
"I just hit $10,000 a couple
of weeks ago," he claims, with
his single highest jackpot an
impressive $40,000, although
he racked up $60,000 in win-
nings in one day.
"It was just hot," he said of
the multiple wins that day.
"The machines were hitting
every five minutes."
He's gambled at the Port
Canaveral ship, he said, but
didn't like the bigger ship as
much as Ponce Inlet's and
probably won't be a frequent
visitor.
"It's my only bad habit," he
said, conceding that if you
play long enough, you'll lose.
"The only way you win is if
you walk away."
willarl@hometownnewsoLcom

Residents evacuate

after gas line break;

caregiver charged

with abuse

Hi, Hometown News
readers.
A gas line break will cost a
construction company as
much as $10,000 after a
condominium complex had
to be evacuated in Daytona
Beach Shores. Sixty resi-
dents from the Oceans One
Condominium, who were
forced out, were put up in a
hotel overnight because the
line wasn't capped off until
after midnight. Workers are
burying utilities in the city
and hit an old gas line that
was buried beneath a
driveway. The construction
company will be on the
hook for the cost of putting
the residents up and
feeding them, as well as
public safety overtime
costs.
A Port Orange man got far
more than he bargained for
when he set up cameras at
home, suspecting a caregiv-
er for his teenage son was
neglecting him. Vinnie
DiMartino had a gut feeling
that his 17-year-old son,
Vincent, who suffers from
cerebral palsy, wasn't being
fed regularly and that the
family caregiver of four
years, Rabha Merlino, was
neglecting the boy's person-
al hygiene.
Mr. DiMartino set up
three home surveillance
cameras around the house.
Ms. Merlino also cared for a
42-year-old handicapped
man who she brought to
the DiMartinos. On tape,
she is seen repeatedly
slapping the 42-year-old
about the face and head. At
one point, she is recorded
slapping the defenseless
man more than a dozen

CLAIRE METZ
WESH-TV News
bureau chief
times. Mr. DiMartino said
the tapes also show Ms.
Merlino stealing from the
family and kicking his son.
Ms. Merlino has been
charged with abuse but
could face more charges as
police in Port Orange
continue to review the
recorded material.
The East Volusia Narcotics
task force, a multi-agency
force from various police
agencies and the Volusia
County Sheriff's Office,
captured a fugitive in New
Smyrna Beach. Euvail
McPhee, 22, was wanted for
selling drugs and skipping
out on previous court dates.
'The task force got wind
that Mr. McPhee was back
in New Smyrna Beach and
said they observed him
right in the middle of a drug
transaction on State Road
44. The team followed Mr.
McPhee after he got into a
vehicle with another man,
but the suspects bailed
when they realized they
were being followed. Mr.

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Beverly Alvarez-Daly/staff photographer
During the holiday season the residents on Rains Court
and other streets in Ponce Inlet experienced a rash of
vandalism and burglaries.

Burglaries
From page Al
ed 24-hour police depart- suspicious activity such as
ment, the town of about cars driving up and down
3,200 residents enjoys one the street or people who
of the lowest crime rates in seem to have an unusual
central Florida. interest in the homes in
Detective Binz said that their neighborhood.
police are actively investi-,
gating these incidents, but Willard@hometownnew-
he urged residents to report sol.com

----

Highwaymen
From page Al

ton, and devised a plan to
mass-produce paintings in
order to sell them cheaply.
Their primary motivation
was to paint their way out of
poverty, Mr. Monroe said.
Mr. Hair theorized that if
he could produce 10 paint-
ings in the time that it took
Mr. Backus to paint one, he
could sell them for $25 each
and make the same money,
Mr. Monroe said.
Because time was money,
the loose-knit group of 26
artists worked quickly,
focusing on the idealized
Florida landscape of sway-
ing palm trees, moonlit
beaches and colorful
blooms. Paintings were
done on cheaply obtained
Upson boards, framed with
inexpensive wood and often
were sold while the oil was
still wet, Mr. Monroe said.
The speed of production
resulted in a "very gestur-
al, almost unfinished" style,
he said.
These are not inferior
paintings, Mr. Monroe
added, because the very
speed in which they painted
may have freed their cre-
ative juices and let "their
intuitions flow."
"They inadvertently cre-
ated a fresh contribution to
American landscape tradi-
tion," he said, and they sold
like "hotcakes" until the
1980's when cultural tastes
changed.
"The appreciation level
was very, very low" at that
point, Mr. Monroe said. The
paintings were dismissed as
"motel art" and often rele-
gated to attics and garage
sales.
When Anne Peacock-
Jacobs first saw a Highway-
men painting five years ago,
it was not love at first sight.
"I thought they were terri-
ble," the Ponce Inlet resi-
dent said. "I was used to
polished, fine art."
Nevertheless, she was
drawn to the paintings and
began to study the folklore
behind them after purchas-
ing her first piece.

"They grow on you," she
said.
Her collection now
includes one painting from
each of the 26 Highway-
men, including Harold
Newton, who died at the
age of 59. Many consider
Mr. Newton's talent to rival
Mr. Backus', and his paint-
ings command the most
money, Mr. Monroe said.
Other prominent artists
include Roy McClendon,
Livingston Roberts, James
Gibson, Willie Daniels, Al
Black and the only female
painter, Mary Ann Carroll.
About 17 Highwaymen are
still alive and continue to
paint, taking advantage of
the new-found interest in
their works, Mr. Monroe
said.
Mr. Black's legacy
includes 91 landscape
murals painted on the
prison walls of the Central
Florida Reception Center
where he was incarcerated
and which still remain
today.
The earlier paintings sell
for $500 up to $10,000, Mr.
Monroe said, estimating
that more than 100,000
were produced.
But, it's not unheard of for
people to find paintings at
garage sales.
Marjorie Poole bought a
Highwaymen painting for
under $20 at a Spruce Creek
High School garage sale.
Knowing nothing about
the artist at the time, the
Port Orange resident said
she purchased the painting
because of the lovely "peach
colored clouds" and has
since found another High-
waymen painting at a
garage sale.
"I felt so good," she said,
after realizing what she had
purchased.
Mr. Monroe said the
artists left a collection of
remarkable paintings.
"This is a visual legacy of
modern Florida," he said.
For more information go to
www.garymonroe.net. Willar
d@hometownnewsol.com

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Ponce Inlet
Police Department
*Ernest E. Wessollek, 58, a
homeless person of Ponce
Inlet, was arrested Jan. 10 on
charges of trespassing on a
designated construction
site. Bail was set at $1,000.
Volusia County
Sheriff's Office
*Jordan Matthew Fike, 18,
of 136 Brandy Hill Drive,
Port Orange, was arrested
Jan. 4 on four charges of
burglary. No bail was set.

Nationally certified

teachers bring prestige

to area schools

BY JEANNINE GAGE
Staff writer

VOLUSIA COUNTY-
Samantha Murray holds a
bachelor's degree in Eng-
lish and a master's degree
in secondary English edu-
cation. And while that
means she has more edu-
cation than many school
teachers in Volusia County,
she felt it was still not
enough.
"How can you encourage
your students to be lifelong
learners if you're not one
yourself?" Ms. Murray
asked.
So, the New Smyrna
Beach High School English
teacher and yearbook
sponsor embarked on one
of the most-grueling tasks a
teacher can face attain-i
ing national board certifi-
cation.
"I knew it was going to
be hard and time consum-
ing," Ms. Murray said. "But
I like to challenge myself
and stay on top of my
game, so I thought it would

be worth it."
Ms. Murray joins 44
other Volusia County
teachers who attained
their national certification
this year, bringing the total
to more than 300. The
county is ranked 17th in
the nation for the number
of nationally certified
teachers, said Carol Olech,
coordinator of staff devel-
opment for Volusia County
Schools.
I "It's very prestigious,"
Ms. Olech said. "It really
benefits the district
because the (national
board certified) teachers
share their expertise with
other teachers."
All teachers are required
to be certified by the state
in which they teach. This
requires holding a bache-
lor's degree in the subject
they will teach and passing
a criminal background
check. If someone wants to
teach a subject in which
they do not hold a degree,
they have to pass a college-
level exam in that subject.

Beverly Alvarez-Daly/staff photographer
New Smyrna Beach High School teacher Samantha Mur-
ray shares a laugh with her yearbook students during a
recent class. Ms. Murray is one of 45 Volusia County
teachers who just received their National Board Certifi-
cation after a rigorous analysis and testing process.

National Board Certifica-
tion is a different animal. It
requires 200-400 hours of
rigorous performance-
based assessment that may
take one to three years to
complete. There are work-
shops and intensive test-
ing.
"This is not a small
undertaking," said James
Minichello, spokesman for
the National Board for Pro-
fessional Teaching Stan-
dards, the organization
which grants the certifica-

tions. "These are teachers
who are committed to their
work and want to improve
themselves both personal-
ly and professionally."
The certification costs
$2,500, but many states,
including Florida, offer
incentives and financial
aid to those who pursue it.
Teachers who attain the
certification receive annu-
al bonuses from the state.
Ms. Murray said she did

) See TEACHERS, A12

Port Orange/Ponce Inlet
So. Daytona/Daytona Beach Shores

(888)

277-TIPS

Wanted

Wanted: Timothy
Joseph O'Keefe
Birth date: Feb. 21,
1958
Reason wanted: child
pornography
Last known address:
Daytona Beach
Crime Stoppers of
Northeast Florida is
seeking information on
the whereabouts of
Timothy Joseph O'Keefe,
49. He is a fugitive who's
wanted for failing to
show up for his trial on
numerous counts of
possession of sexual
performance by a child.
His last two known
addresses were on White
Street and Winner Circle,
both in Daytona Beach.
Mr. O'Keefe is 5 feet, 10
inches and weighs about
190 pounds. He has
brown hair and green
eyes and also goes by the
names Tim Younger and

Timothy O'Keefe

Tim Lee.
If you see Mr. O'Keefe
or know where he is,
don't attempt to appre-
hend him. Anyone with
information on his
whereabouts is asked to
call Crime Stoppers toll-
free at (888) 277-TIPS.
Callers to Crime Stop-
pers will remain anony-
mous and can qualify for
a reward of up to $1,000.

(386) 322-5902
or e-mail volnews@hometowinnewsol.com.
Callers are asked to refmin fiom making
slanderous statements. Statements offact
will be checked for accuracy.

Bowler sees a need for bowling
alley in Port Orange
It has been more than two years since the wrecking ball
knocked down Daytona Bowl. What a loss to all the bowlers in
South Daytona, Port Orange and beyond. What a loss to stu-
dents and all the way up in age to senior citizens, who now
have to travel to Ormond Beach, Daytona and New Smyrna
Beach to bowl.
As a citizen of Port Orange since 1984, I've seen many good
changes in our great city. Now, I'd like to see another improve-
ment to our city.
We need a 40-lane bowling alley with an annex of two video
game rooms, one for ages up to 12 and another for teenagers,
a billiard room, a meeting room and a small snack shop next
to the pro shop.
Port Orange needs a recreation center that's useful for our
residents in all kinds of weather.
Our city officials did a remarkable job in convincing Palmer
College of Chiropractic to locate here. Well done!
Please try to convince the bowling industry to build or relo-
cate here, too.

No dogs, no'mess
I have been reading all the controversy over the no dogs in
the dune area at Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach.
My wife was bit by a large dog while running on the boardwalk
a few months ago. The dog's owner were not identified, so we
faced the fact of whether to have rabies shots or assume the
dog was vaccinated for rabies.
Having heard of other incidents, I think it's a great idea that
the dogs are off the boardwalk and on the beach way around
the boardwalk. They can still come to the park, but it keeps
them away from people.
The dog that bit my wife was on a retractable leash, but the
people had let it out so far that they didn't see the dog jump up
on my wife.
Also, if you run around the.park, there is usually dog mess
left by irresponsible owners. We see it almost weekly. So, I
think it is the greatest thing yet to eliminate the dogs from
Smyrna Dunes Park boardwalk.

Staying aware
My biggest complaint for the newspaper is that the war
death toll in Iraq should be on the front page in a column on
the left to remind people every day how many of our young
people are dying.
It is something we need to look at every day to keep us
aware of what is going on.

Democrat not pleased with candidate
I am a lifelong democrat, and I believe if Barack Obama is
our candidate for president, it would be like the cook on an
aircraft carrier guiding it in a hurricane.
I would either not vote or vote for Republican candidate
Huckabee.

Dogs should stay at park

A large group of citizens object to the changes the county is
making at Smyrna Dunes Park. This is not a dog or dog
owner's rights issue. This is a quality of life issue that will
greatly affect our local community.
I think we will all agree that Smyrna Dunes Park is a unique
area treasure. It is used regularly by many local residents,
county residents and tourists from afar. This park draws many
visitors that bring dollars to our local businesses.
By now, you are all probably aware that the county is insti7
tuning a pilot program that will ban dogs from the boardwalk
and most of the beach, and will limit the area that dogs are
allowed to a short, sandy trail on the west-northwest portion
of the park, adjacent to the river. This is the county's response
to problems created by a few inconsiderate lawbreakers.
On busy weekends and summer days, this program will cre-
ate more problems by concentrating more animals to a much
smaller place. Even the beach patrol representative who
attended the meeting in December thought this was a bad
idea.

*It won't stop the tons of improperly discarded trash.
*It won't prevent poachers from taking gopher tortoises and
sea turtles.
*It won't prevent organized groups or illegal immigrants
from harvesting palmetto berries.
*It won't prevent vicious dogs at the park.
*It won't stop the dog bites.
*It won't prevent people from cutting sea oats.
*It won't eliminate bicycles, motorized skateboards and
scooters from the boardwalk.
*It won't stop overnight visitors from sleeping in the pavil-
ions.
*It won't stop people from walking on the dunes or children
from sledding on the dunes.
*It won't keep unlicensed dogs from our park.
*It won't provide well being or safety for those who walk or
run in the quietest times, in the early morning and evening
hours.
*It will stop elderly and non-ambulatory dog owners from
accessing any of the park's walkways.
*It will limit the opportunity for outdoor exercise.
*It will negatively impact our local economy.
*It will most likely result in a future ban of dogs from the
park entirely
I've been walking this boardwalk for 12 years, and I've never
seen any of the park rules enforced, not once. The park
employees simply maintain the park. Dog owners are being
targeted as scapegoats for the problems created by the coun-
ty's negligence in the lack of enforcement of all existing rules
at the park.
All local, state and federal parks in Volusia County find it
necessary to provide full-time law enforcement at their facili-
ties. At what point is Volusia County negligent in not providing
law enforcement here?
The county says they will now beef up enforcement as part
of this pilot program. We applaud the efforts to increase
enforcement and welcome this with increased penalties for
violators of current ordinances. To do this with the new ban
seems drastic and unfair.
Many of us would like to help design better etiquette rules.
For instance, one way traffic and shorter leashes to help
improve the dog situation at the park. We all would like to do
what we can do to improve life at the park for all visitors.
I requested that the New Smyrna Beach City Commission
endorse our efforts to urge the county to not impose the pilot
program, but to provide the needed enforcement of existing
laws.
On Jan. 8, the New Smyrna Beach City Commission unani-
mously endorsed our group's efforts to ask the county for a
stay on the ban of dogs from the boardwalk, while park users
and concerned citizens work out intelligent, real solutions to
all the issues at the park. County Councilman Jack Hayman
has agreed to form a committee to work on the issues at hand.
Residents brought this endorsement, along with a plea for
the county to stop their negligence in enforcing the rules
already in existence at the park. The goal is to create a better
park experience for all park visitors. Jill Dempsey presented
the case Jan. 17 at Council Chambers in DeLand.

In response to 'Reader gets a slap in the face'
I am addressing the very ignorant views and outlandish lies
printed in the rants section of this paper.
I know Hometown News is not in the business of verifying
what is in the Rants & Raves section, but here is the correction
that should be printed.
The city does not pay the firefighters pension. This pension
is privately funded by the firefighters themselves, and the city
of Ormond Beach only makes contributions to the pension
when it is absolutely necessary to make it solvent. So far, the
pension has been doing great, so the city has been contribut-
ing very little.
A firefighters and police officers pension is paid from the
retirement fund, not by the city. Also, firefighters and police
officers do not get any insurance benefits when they retire.

The writer is just trying to make the hard-working firefight-
ers and police officers look bad again with all the lies! Why are
Ormond Beach police officers the lowest paid in the area?Why
does it take more than 20 years to top out in the pay matrix?
Why was the city stealing more than $170,000 per year from
the insurance companies? This money was supposed to be
used for retirement benefits (until Bush closed that loophole).
As the firefighters and police officer raises go, they stink. The
firefighters settled for a $500 bonus this year, no raise. They
offered the same to the police officers.
A starting police officer makes $29,000 per year, and the
average price of a house is $200,000. Cost of living raises are
nonexistent in this city. The city commission and the mayor
are serving their own interests and the interests of the rich
landowners, doctors, lawyers and the people with money.
Whoever wrote this rant about the big raises and great bene-
fits must be living in a dream world.
It is time to wake up and start paying the firefighters and
police officers and stop building parks, buying bronze statutes
and giving $20,000 to the London Symphony Orchestra. By
the way, when do I get my free tickets to the LSO?
Finally, all the average citizen needs to do is go to city hall
and ask how much the city manager, city attorney, assistant
city attorney, human resources director and finance director
make per year.
You would fall out of your chair.

Resident shocked with
improper garbage collection
I live in Ormond Beach. Because I work a regular job, I'm
never at home to see the garbage men and women pick up the
trash and recycling. So, imagine my surprise when I looked
out the window when I heard the truck on NewYear's Day and
saw them throwing the trash and recycling into the same
garbage truck and compacting it together.
Ormond Beach collects and extra fee on our utility bills for
recycling, so at worst, this is stealing. At a minimum, it is a rip
off and waste of our natural resources and landfill space.
Almost everyone on our street recycles. Is it a waste of our
time?

Resident wants to annex
I would really like to know how many people in the 32132
area code of Edgewater would be open to the suggestion of
this area being annexed into New Smyrna Beach.
Personally, I would like to see, at the least, beginning at
10th Street in New Smyrna Beach and going south all the
way to Park Avenue annexed into New Smyrna Beach. The
people in this area do not benefit from anything Edgewater
has.
As a citizen of this area some people call "Dog Town," for
me, it is closer and easier to go to New Smyrna Beach for
basically anything I need. I can get any service in New Smyr-
na Beach easier than driving through Edgewater.
Think about the benefits. The property taxes would be
lower. Police, fire and other services would be much better.
The best part of all, though, is we would not be part of Edge-
water anymore and not be subject to their unfair taxation
anymore and the corruption of the city leaders.
Just read the local news that comes out of Edgewater and
you will see this is a city that is going nowhere fast; it is a city
that is quickly becoming a joke, a poster child for misman-
agement.
Let's take up issue, follow through and deal with these peo-
ple and say we have had enough with the way this city is
being run. We are not benefiting from anything that they cre-
ate. We want out.
Does anybody else feel this way? I would like to know. I
also would like to hear any suggestions anyone has to get
this annexation ball rolling.

"Portability is going to cost
local governments a lot of
money."
"Portability is going to shift
a lot of taxes from home-
steaded property to non-
homesteaded property
(business, etc.)."
How can portability
cost governments
anything?
Unless you cut spending,
you haven't lost any funding
or cost anyone a dime. So
portability can't cost local
governments money because
it doesn't take anything away
from them. Portability allows
people to keep what they've
rightfully accrued through
Save Our Homes without
losing it if they decide to
move.
What may well cost local
governments money is the
new law (passed last spring,
FS200.065) restricting the
rate of spending increases by
local governments from year
to year.
Florida's new law dictates
that increases in property tax
spending will be limited to
the per capita income levels
of it's citizens each year (plus
new construction). What may
well cost taxpayers money is
the way funding may be
shifted from property taxes
to other "non-ad valorem"
funding sources. That's not
happening because of the
January amendment, it's
happening because local
governments are trying to
preserve additional funding
sources.
The January amendment is
designed to save people
money by allowing them to
keep Save Our Homes
through portability. Portabil-
ity saves taxpayers money
and doesn't take away
anything government
currently has.
Does portability cause a
dramatic shift of taxes from

MORGAN GILREATH
Volusia County
property appraiser

homeowners to non-
homeowners (business, etc.)?
Portability doesn't create a
decrease in anyone's value
that would need to be made
up by a tax increase on
anyone else. It does allow
homeowners to keep what
they already have. It encour-
ages people to move into
new homes without penalty.
There is a tremendous
amount of economic activity
in Florida directly tied to the
real estate market. Do
opponents want to see
people continue to be bound
in their homes, faced with no
possibility of buying again in
Florida?
At the present time, we
have virtually no new
residential construction
because the real estate
market is frozen due to the
lack of portability. Having
portability will enable people
to move and more new
homes will be built as the
market returns to normal.
New homes created through
people having portability will
create additional taxable
value and additional taxes.
Portability will have a
positive impact on tax rolls,
not a negative one. Any new
value on the tax roll means

more money for local
governments, not less.
The only time a real shift in
existing taxes paid will occur
is when a Floridian who had
homestead in another
county moves into a home in
Volusia County where the
new taxable value is less than
that of the preceding Volusia
occupant.
So what's the bottom line?
Portability may well create
additional taxes, not fewer
taxes as new homes are
constructed and occupied.
Taxable values on existing
homesteaded properties will
not go down, they will
continue to rise at 3 percent
or the consumer price index,
whichever is less. The real
estate market will be released
from the stranglehold of
property taxes keeping
people from moving within
the state of Florida. Addition-
al taxes will be generated
from the new homes sold to
those people now free to
move without property tax
penalty.
With the already enacted
spending cap in place and
the amendment's value cap
for non-homesteaded
properties, local govern-
ments will not be able to
receive additional revenues
through millage magic
(keeping the rate the same
and claiming to have no
additional revenues).
Portability, simply put,
allows Floridians to be able
to move to new homes. It has
potential for kick-starting a
severely depressed real estate
market and enabling all
Floridians to safely remain
homeowners in existing or
new homes. It is a positive
move in negative times.

Morgan B. Gilreath Jr is the
Volusia County property
appraiser His third install-
ment on tax reform will
appear in next week's paper.

Metz
From page A3
McPhee jumped into a
canal to get away but was
quickly tracked down by
an officer and his canine.
A second man with Mr.
McPhee was later cap-
tured near Samsula. WESH
2 learned that Daytona
Beach police believe a
serial killer, who preyed on
women two years ago, may
have returned to the city
streets.
The decomposing body
of Stacey Gage, 30, was
found in a wooded area on
Hancock Street off of
Clyde Morris Boulevard
Jan. 2. After a detailed
investigation, police later
said they believe circum-
stances surrounding Ms.
Gage's murder are a near
carbon copy of the
murders of three women
in late 2005 and early 2006.
The first three women
were shot in the head and
found in remote areas of
the city between Decem-
ber 2005 and February of
2006. Those victims either
lived or worked on the
streets, and police said the
women were involved in
behavior that put them at
risk. They tell WESH that
Ms. Gage, the possible
fourth suspect, lived at
home, but had a past drug
problem that could have
made her vulnerable when
she disappeared in her
grandmother's van Dec.
10.
Police recovered the van
at the Waterclub Apart-
ments on Beach Street
recently, but so far,
nothing in the van has led
to a killer or told police
anything about Ms. Gage's
movements before her
death. Investigators can't
be sure but don't believe
the killer lives at the
apartments. They suspect
the location was little
more than a place to
dump the van.
Ms. Gage's family is
crushed at the loss of the
young woman. She was a
daughter and grand-
daughter and a mother of

two young children. Loved
ones said Ms. Gage was
trying to turn her life
around and had been free
of drugs for 10 months
before her murder. They
held a memorial service
for the murdered woman
recently and remembered
her as a standout Main-
land High School athlete, a
loving mom and a bright
light who will be terribly
missed.
Few are more concerned
about the possibility that a
serial killer is back on the
streets than the two
investigators who have
been trying to break the
case. Daytona Beach
detectives Tammy Pera
and Steve Grant have
gathered mountains of
evidence and followed
countless leads since the
body of Laquetta Gunther
was found in an alley
between two buildings in
December 2005. Julie
Green was found dead in
January and Iwana Patton
was murdered the next
month.
The investigators told
WESH 2 they have recov-
ered DNA that could nail
the suspect when he is
identified; however, they
said he has taken great
pains to cover his tracks
and won't rule out that
there is more than one
killer, possibly a team of
men working together.
The investigators said
the killer or killers could
be anyone. He could be a
snowbird, a worker who
heads south during the
winter or someone who
has been in jail. The two
detectives are more
determined than ever to
draw attention to the cases
and find the suspect
before he strikes again.
The Speedway is setting
up for the race season,
which will be highlighted
by the 50th anniversary of
the Daytona 500. NASCAR
President Mike Helton told
WESH 2 during recent
testing that a 500 win is big
under any circumstance,
but the 50th running of
the famous race is one
every driver would like to

capture. There will be
much more on the plans
for the anniversary in the
coming weeks.
A crew used to saving
lives needed some help
itself when the Volusia
County Sheriff's Office Air
One Helicopter made an
emergency landing. The
helicopter's engine failed
as the crew headed to a
cragh scene near DeLand
to take a victim to the
hospital. The pilot made a
hard landing, but a precise
and safe one in a construc-
tion area off of busy State
Road 17-92. The crew
extinguished a minor fire
on board, but the pilot and
a paramedic aboard were
able to walk away.
The area has had several
weeks without any sign of
red tide along the shore,
and beach patrol officers
hope a recent cold front
may have neutralized the
algae or the winds may
have blown it far off shore.
2007 was a busy year on
the beach with storms that
gobbled up beachfront,
mountains of seaweed
that washed ashore with
thousand of sea turtles
entangled in it and a
record number of rescues.
More than 5,000 people
were pulled from the water
in Volusia County last year
and a half dozen drowned;
three people had medical
conditions that led to their
deaths.
Even though 2007 wasn't
the year of the shark, the
2001 record was almost hit
with 18 people having far
too close encounters. The
majority of those bit by
sharks were surfers and
the injuries were, thank-
fully, all minor.
Then the red tide that
began irritating beachgo-
ers in late September until
late November plagued
the area. The tide killed
birds and sea turtles and
may have been responsi-
ble for the deaths of nine
dolphins.

With AT&T Real Yellow Pages, you'll find ticket information, home
schedules, seating charts, even area and transit maps. And on
YELLOWPAGES.COM,~ find detailed maps and directions that will
lead you right to the stadium. All the info you need to get to the
game. The new AT&T. Your world. Delivered.s

F ew topics are as
hard to talk to chil-
dren about as
money. Maybe it's because
most of us aren't confident
about the subject our-
selves.
Instead we avoid certain
topics, such as how much
we earn, what food and
housing cost, and our
financial arrangements for
the future. By dodging
these subjects we set up
our children to be as
financially confused as we
are.
Just because we aren't
teaching our children
about money, doesn't
mean they aren't spending

money every year.
Fortunately, the biggest
influence on how children
spend is not advertising,
friends, or TV program-
ming. It's you.
If you want your children
to be financially responsi-
ble, show them how.

Start with an
allowance

An allowance is an
opportunity for your child
to learn about income and
budgeting, and is a way for
you to get some relief from
I See FINANCIAL, A9

Contact us today for great
New Year Specials and protect
your family all year long!

VAN CANADA
Riverside Bank
it. According to a 2007 CBS
News story, children
between 8 and 12 spend
$30 billion of their own

nPort Orange/Ponce Inlet
AR8 -- -- -

Hometown News

lail

dirF a Januar 18 2008 www.HometownNewsOL.com

Port Orange/Ponce Inlet
So. Daytona/Daytona Beach Shores

THE '"KING' AND HIS COURT

Business News

Community service
rep named
Mariann D'Arcangelo has
accepted the position of
community service repre-
sentative for Home Instead
Senior Care in South Day-

tona.
Ms. D'Arcangelo has
worked in the long-term
care field for 28 years and is
involved with seniors in the
community.
For Hometown News

Beverly Alvarez-Daly/statt photographer
The king of rock, 'Elvis,' serenades Lois Livengood and Myrtle Kirkpatrick, both of Port Orange, during the Women's
Lifestyle Expo Jan. 12 at the Sunshine Park Mall in South Daytona.

Financial
From page A8

their requests for money
and purchases.
Generally, if a child is
old enough to ask you to
buy things, he or she is old
enough for an allowance.
Even preschoolers can
handle small amounts of
money for personal
purchases.
Now, how much?
Depending on you and
your family's financial
situation, try 50 cents a
week for each year of age
i (an 8-year-old would
receive $4 a week). Or give
your child an amount
equal to his or her grade
in school ($3 a week for a
third grader).
Set a budget
Help your child learn to
manage money by setting
a budget. List all of the
expenses you have
approved and how much
money should go to each,
balancing savings, charity,
and gifts with fun items.

Whatever budget you
set, stick to it. Children
are less likely to hold on to
their money if they know
you will help them when
they run out. If your child'
runs out of money, use it
as an opportunity to talk
about the consequences
of overspending.
Teach saving
Once they live with a
budget, children quickly
discover they don't always
have enough money to
buy what they want when
they want it. Helping them
work toward bigger
purchases can be a great
introduction to saving.
Start with a piggy bank
or children's account at
your personal.bank. Show
your child how to keep
track of deposits and
interest by looking at their
account online. You may
also want to help your
children find ways to earn
extra money to reach their
goals faster.

Practice, practice,
practice

By starting young,
children have a chance to
practice financial skills
they'll need as adults.
Besides budgeting and
saving, you can introduce
them to "grown-up" tools,
such as checking accounts
and debit cards. Many
banks offer youth or teen
checking accounts that

allow children to learn
how to pay bills, balance
accounts, and use ATM
and debit cards wisely, all
with your oversight.
With a little help from
you, your children will
develop good financial
habits now that will last
them a lifetime.
This article was submit-
ted by Van Canada,
Riverside Bank president
in Volusia County.

It is said that every
place on the planet
has something of
interest and Peru is no
exception with its natural,
cultural and human lega-
cies.
You will be amazed by
the sharp contrasts, of the
forests and deserts of the
coastal regions; the deep
ravines and snow-capped
mountains of the Andes;
the densely forested slopes
and plains of vegetation of
the Amazon jungle.
Beautiful beaches, deep
caves and some of the
longest rivers on the South
American continent exist
in Peru.
Travel along ancient

paths that wind through
the diverse terrains of Peru.
Take the opportunity to
observe endangered
species in their natural
habitat. See vegetation that
is used in modern day
medications, as well as
vegetation that is still used
today by the locals for
medicinal purposes.
Peru's population is filled
with diverse racial back-
grounds. This results in a
multitude of ancient,
creative and colorful folk
art. Travelers can join in
celebrations of music and
dance, and listen to people
relate the history of their
ancestors.
Visit local villages and
farms. See how the people

KATE FOWKES
Travel columnist
manage to grow crops in
the highlands, jungles and
coastal regions.
After a visit to Lima,
travel to Cusco in the

ancient sacred valley of the
Incas that dates to the 15th
century. It will leave you in
awe. Cusco is known as the
archaeological capital of
the Americas.
In 1983, the United
Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural
Organization declared
Cuzco a World Heritage
site.
Machu Picchu, 74 miles
north of Cuzco, is known
by many as a mystical
place that exudes vital
energy. It is also known as
the Lost City of the Incas.
Located 70 miles north of
Cusco, it is accessible by
rail, then bus to the ancient
site. It takes about four

hours to travel there from
Cusco. The site is 7,872 feet
above sea level. In 1983
UNESCO declared Machu
Picchu a World Cultural
and Natural Heritage site.
Lake Titicaca, the world's
highest navigable lake, is
at an altitude of 12,500
feet. It is 10 hours by train
ride from Cuzco. A visit to
the lake would be an
archaeologist's or environ-
mentalist's dream come
true. It's also a great
experience for bird watch-
ers.
Now if your love of travel
is linked to your stomach,
you'll be happy to hear
Peru's cuisine will delight
the most demanding
palate.
Peru is known to have
the best seasonings and
spices in the Americas.
Because of the diverse
nationalities, European,
African, Asian and, of

course, native Peruvian,
many dishes have been
created with this unique
blend in mind. The food is
also a part of its folklore.
When you complete your
gastronomical delight
savor a glass of Pisco, a
white grape brandy
distilled from fresh local
grapes or try a Pisco sour,
the country's signature
cocktail.
We recommend an
escorted tour when visiting
Peru. With such a vast area
and much diversity,
traveling with the special-
ists will transform your
dream to reality.
Kate Fowkes is a travel
consultant with Gadabout
Travel in Melbourne. She
can be reached at (321)
253-3674 or www.cruise-
traveltours.com.
Gadabout Travel also has
an office in Sebastian, (772)
589-0633.

Long

From page AI
development."
The committee, consist-
ing of representatives from
each municipality, the
School Board and Volusia
County will meet at least
once a year.
After graduating from
Ohio Dominican Universi-
ty, Ms. Long earned a mas-
ter's degree in language
arts and her doctorate in
English Curriculum and
Instruction from the Uni-

versity of Central Florida.
With her children grown,
Ms. Long said she is looking
forward to becoming more
involved in public ,school
issues.
"This will be good for me
to get more involved with
what's going on and to keep
in touch now that my kids
have graduated," she said.

Willard@hometownnew-
sol.com

L*- L i

RIVERWOOD PLAZA, 4031 NOVA RD., PORT ORANGE

Memory may

not serve

her well

anymore.

But we will.

If your mom, or someone you love, has symptoms of Alzheimer's or other
memory impairments, waiting to get help can be a mistake. The demands on
your time as a caregiver will only increase in the future. We're here to help.
Summerville at Port Orange offers a specially designed program of care that
combines proven approaches with the sensitivity of a highly trained staff.
Your mother will live in a safe, secure and comfortable environment, cared
for by dedicated professionals who are knowledgeable and compassionate.
Call us today to learn more or to schedule your personal tour.

5th Annual Healthy Heart Run
February 23, 2008
For more information, contact The Port Orange YMCA at 760-9622
or register online at www.altavistasports.com

A dance program taught by PROFESSIONAL dance instructors!*
Classes offered in:
Ballet* Tap* Jazz* Modern* Pointe
(Ages 3-18) (Beginner Advanced)
Professional Dance Instruction* Non-competition studio*
No expensive costumes to buy* Recognized instructor with over 20+ years
experience!* All classes located in spacious dance room at Spruce Creek HS*
For more information, please call 386-760-9622 0
or email poydance@gmail.com New classes begin February 25,2008

I CARIBBEAN MEDITERRANEAN NORTHERN EUROPE TRANSATLAW SOUTH AMERICA

Friday, January 18, 2008

A Port Orange/Ponce Inlet
AIDC ,. ..... ....... h^ R h c

Hometown News

1 0

Friday, January 18, 2008 www.HometownNewsOL.com

Death

Port Orange/Ponce Inlet
So. Daytona/Daytona Beach Shores Al 1

Susie C. Thompson
Susie C. Thompson Bilot-
ta, 90, of Port Orange, died
Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, at Hali-
fax Medical Center in Port
Orange.
Mrs. Bilotta was born in
Brewer, Maine, and had
lived in the area since 1982,
coming from her birthplace.

She retired as a fancy
stitcher for the Viner Shoe
Company in Bangor, Maine.
Mrs. Bilotta was a mem-
ber of the Epiphany Catholic
Church in Port Orange.
She is survived by her
stepson, Robert Bilotta and
his wife, Helen, of Port
Orange, a daughter, Yvonne
Dean of Port Orange, nine
grandchildren and 17 great-

grandchildren.
A celebration of Mrs.
Bilotta's life will be held Sat-
urday, Jan. 26, at the club-
house at Lighthouse Pointe
in Port Orange.
Arrangements were under
the direction of Cardwell &
Maloney Funeral Home in
Port Orange.
For Hometown News

Community Notes

Chinese auction slated
The Elkhearts of Port
Orange will hold its annual
Chinese Auction and Lun-
cheon from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, at the
Elks Lodge, 5207 S. Ridge-
wood Ave., Port Orange.
There will be several items
to bid on. Proceeds will ben-
efit localcharities.
Chicken supreme, rice
pilaf, apple rings and dessert
will be served at noon.
The cost is $7. Reserva-
tions are not required.
For ticket information, call
(386) 763-9136.

O tt surTl acirotsiH

Campaign for Working
Families, based at the Unit-
ed Way ofVolusia and Flagler
Counties, is a prosperity
campaign serving Volusia
and Flagler counties. The
mission is to increase the
resources available to the
working poor, primarily
through providing free tax
preparation and financial
literacy training so people
can begin to build assets and
become financially secure.
For location, days and
times, visit www.cfwffla.org
or call (386) 253-0563.

VFW Voice of
Democracy awards

lI cM iL ceremony held Jan. 5
hold commemoration

The Port Orange Historical
Trust will host the commem-
oration of the Battle of Dun-
lawton at 2 p.m., Sunday,
Jan. 20, at the Riverside
Pavilion Port Orange Cham-
ber of Commerce, 3431
Ridgewood Ave., Port
Orange.
The Battle of Dunlawton
took place 172 years ago
between the Florida militia
and Seminole Indians.
The event will feature the
35-piece Daytona Beach
Concert Band, the Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical Univer-
sity Color Guard and a spe-
cial program with the story
of this battle.
The program will be held
rain or shine. Admission is
free.
For more information, call
(386) 252-6133.

Free tax preparation
available

Low-income families in
Volusia and Flagler Counties
could get up to $4,700 this
year by taking advantage of
the earned income tax cred-
it.
Free tax preparation help
is available that will register
eligible families for the tax
break through the Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance Pro-
gram. IRS certified volun-
teers identify taxpayer's eli-
gibility for the Earned
Income Tax Credit and Child
Tax Credit, as well as help file
accurate tax returns and
staff the VITA sites.
The season kicked off Jan.
4 14 and runs through April
15. Sites are located in Day-
tona Beach and Port Orange.

NO BU

SAI

21 YEARS
THE ORIG
1993 OF Oi
INSIDE 6
L My ONLY

The Veterans of Foreign
Wars District 16, consisting
of 11 VFW facilities in Cen-
tral Florida, had its annual
awards ceremony Jan. 5 at
the new VFW building and
banquet hall located at 5810
S. Williamson Blvd. in Port
Orange for high school win-
ners of the Voice of Democ-
racy oral essay and middle
school winners of the Patriot
Pen written essay. More than
100 people, including fami-
lies, students, teachers, offi-
. cers and wives from the 11
VFW Posts, attended.
James Dearborn, the Voice

YGS OR TERMITES...GUARANTE i

VE $200 A YEAR

of Democracy chairman for
Florida District 16, was the
master of ceremonies, and
he made the following
awards with plaques:
The first place winner in
the Voice of Democracy oral
essay was Rebecca Guadag-
no from Spruce Creek High
School, who received a
$1,000 U.S. Savings Bond.
Her essay was titled "My
Role in Honoring America's
Veterans." Her presentation
received a standing ovation.
The second place winner
was Chelsey Burke from
Mainland High School, and
she received a $500 U.S. Sav-
ings Bond.
Kendall Krivich from
Creekside Middle School
also received first place in
the Patriot Pen written essay,
and her award was a $500
U.S. Savings Bond. Kendall
spoke on the topic "Why I
am an American Patriot,"
and she also received an
ovation for her presentation
The Teacher of the Year
plaque was awarded to
Linda Wright from Mainland
High School.
Each category will com-
pete for state and hopefully
national honors with initial
awards announcements
during the Florida conven-
tion in June.
For Hometown News

------ -I
*

(TfATS $1,000 IN FIVE YEARS SAVED OFF PEST CONTROL)

SAVE ANOTHER $100 A YEAR*
THAT'SS ANOTHER $500 IN FIVE YEARS SAVED OFF TERMITE PROTECTION)

INATOR IN 760-7313
,NCE A YEAR *based on local prices
3 OUTSIDES charged by national a
i JIJ l pestcol iorg

Teachers
From page A5
not pursue certification to get
more pay.
"It's not about the-money,"
she said. "If it is, I doubt you
would go through with it."
Only 45 percent of the teach-
ers get through the program in
the first year as Ms. Murray did.
"That's a testament to the
rigor of the process," Mr.
Minichello said. "It's a journey
and some people take longer to
complete it than others."
Ms. Murray, who has taught
for eight years, said the hardest
part of the process for her was
the self-reflection that came
with video-taping herself in the
classroom and completing
written analyses of her work.
"It was nerve wracking. It
forces you to see all the little
things you may not be happy
with over and over again," she
said. "But ,it definitely helps
you understand all of your
strengths and weaknesses."
Two of Ms. Murray's stu-
dents, sophomores Cyndal

'There are a lot of amazing teachers here who just
haven't had the time to get their certification. But
when they're ready, I can help them through the
process."

Carol Olech
coordinator of staff developme
Devasto and Brittney Crouch,
said Ms. Murray is fun and cre-
ative and one of their favorite
teachers. The fact she attained
national certification reflects
her commitment to her stu-
dents.
"Not that many teachers
have it," Ms. Devasto said. "I
know it was very important to
her and she worked really
hard."
Ms. Crouch said she thinks
having Ms. Murray as a teacher
will help her get into a good
college.
"It looks better on a college
application," she said. "It
shows you had a good educa-
tion."
Ms. Olech said national
board certified teachers share
their knowledge with other

teachers through mentoring
programs. Ms. Murray said she
is happy to do that.
"There are a lot of amazing
teachers here who just haven't
had the time to get their certifi-
cation," she said. "But when
they're ready, I can help them
through the process. And part
of the program is to also men-
tor new teachers."
Ms. Olech said having
national board certified teach-
ers brings a higher standard of
education to the county with
little or no cost to the taxpayers.
"It definitely makes a differ-
ence," she said. "It forces teach-
ers to be more focused on stu-
dent achievement."

FRIDAY, JAN. 18
*'Hotbed Hotel' perform-
ance: The Little Theatre of
New Smyrna Beach will
present this comedy by
Michael Parker at 8 p.m., Jan.
18-19, and at 2 p.m., Sunday,
Jan. 20. Adding to the hilarity
will be a curvaceous and
dumb maid, the beautiful
mistress, a nymphomaniac, the
unsuspecting wife and the
wealthy Arab Sheik, just to
name a few. This comedy play
will be directed by artistic
director John Stenko. Tickets
cost $14 for adults, $13 for
seniors (62 and older) and $7
for children younger than 18
and may be purchased at the
Little Theatre box office, 726
Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach.
The box office is open from 1-4
p.m., Monday-Friday. For more
information, call (386) 423-
1246 or visit the Web site at
www.NsbPlayers.org.
*Homegrown Roots
Jamboree: Local bands No
Circus and Natalie Wright will
perform at Tir na nOg, 612 E.
International Speedway Blvd.,
Daytona Beach. Show starts at
10 p.m. The cost is $3.
*Adult Dance: Port Orange
Parks & Recreation will host a
dance for adults at the Port
Orange Adult Center, 4790 S.
Ridgewood Ave. Doors will
open at 6:30 p.m., with
dancing from 7-9 p.m. The
Vagabonds will provide the,
music. The cost is $5 per
person or $8 per couple. For
more information, call (386)
756-5391.
*'Oliver!'performance:
Children's Musical Theater
Workshop will present "Oliver!"
at 7 p.m. today and Saturday at
the Ormond Beach Performing
Arts Center. For tickets, call
(386) 675-3375.
*Trolley Tours: The Ormond
Beach Historical Trust will host
this two-hour at 9:45 a.m.
Participants will be introduced
to more than 30 historical
buildings and sites in Ormond
Beach. The climate-controlled
trolley makes stops at the
Fairchild Oak and the Three
Chimneys Sugar Mill Ruins
(ruins not otherwise open to
the public). The cost is$18 for
adults, $15 for seniors and $5
for children ages 5-12. Tours
begin at the Casements
parking lot, 25 Riverside Drive,
Ormond Beach. Seating is
limited. Reservations are
required; call (386) 677-7005.
*Daytona Playhouse 'The
Gin Game': Reid Conrad will
make his directorial debut with
this Pulitzer Prize winning play
'by D.L Coburn. On the porch of
a seedy nursing home, Weller
Martin (played by Bob Weaver)
sits alone, playing solitaire.
Enter prim, self-righteous
) See OUT & ABOUT, B3

VOLUSIA COUNTY

UININBftoNT[EHTAINIENT

Author to

lecture, sign 'I

Was Cuba' book

FOR HOMETOWN NEWS

Ramiro Fernandez will
lecture about pre-revolu-
tion Cuban photography
and sign copies of his
new book "I Was Cuba"
Saturday, Jan. 19, at the
Museum of Arts and Sci-
ences.
The lecture will be held
from 2 to 3 p.m. in the
auditorium, followed by
the book signing at 3 p.m.
"I Was Cuba" was voted
one of Amazon.com's
best books for 2007 and
has been given positive
reviews by People maga-
zine, Reader'sDigest, The
Palm Beach Post, Conde
Nast Portfolio and People
in Espanol.
While some think of
Cuba as a mythical island
of rum, rumba and revo-
lution, period photo-
graphs reveal a more
complex place. "I Was
Cuba" is an original look
at Cuban history as seen
through the Ramiro Fer-
nandez Collection, an
archive of Cuban photos
and ephemera.

"I Was Cuba" showcas-
es rare images from the
19th century through the
revolutionary period,
exploring the everyday
and the eccentric.
Assembled over the past
three decades, this
never-before-seen col-
lection spans the 19th
century to the post-revo-
lution era. This book fea-
tures more than 300 of
the collection's images of
hidden Cuba.
The collection includes
imagery in photography,
Cuban culture and histo-
ry, architecture, design,
pop culture, politics and
sports. The narrative was
written by Kevin Kwan.
The pictures are not
organized chronological-
ly or thematically.
Instead, the book is
structured as a visual
"dream journey" through
Cuba. Within this frame-
work, the whole political,
cultural and sociological
and geographical history
of the country is revealed
in images, such as early
albumen portraits and

STAR SCOPES
James Tucker

Week of 01-18-2008

Aries-March 21-April 19
There is much change happening around you.
Your job is to stay cool when the storms of life hit
and refuse to allow effects not of your making toss
you around. Stay focused. Your judgment is
sound. Use it when making decisions. Ask, "Will
this make me happy?" When you hear a big yes,
it's time to take action. Now success is guaran-
teed.

Photo courtesy of Santiago Studio
Author Ramiro Fernandez (not pictured) will lecture
about pre-revolution Cuban photography and sign
copies of his new book "I Was Cuba" at 2 p.m. Satur-
day, Jan. 19, at the Museum of Arts and Sciences. The
event also will feature photographer and writer Kevin
Kwan (left) and People en Espanol managing editor
Peter Castro, who contributed to the book.

family snapshots. It also
includes images of musi-
cians Josephine Baker
and Celia Cruz, baseball
players, Grand Prix races
from the glamorous
1950s and rare images of
Fidel Castro and Che
Guevara.
Interspersed within the
book are quotes by

Cuban author Reinaldo
Arenas (Before Night
Falls), and concluding
the photo narrative is an
entertaining interview
with the collector Ramiro
Fernandez by Peter Cas-
tro, the managing editor
of People en Espafiol
0 See CUBA, B5

Your inherent sense of responsibility will guide
you as needed. Try to keep a lighter touch. Face
life's challenges straight on when they happen,
and use them as stepping-stones to forge tighter
bonds and greater understanding with family,
associates and friends. Now watch your results
soar.

Gemini-May 21-June 21
Stay strong in your own beliefs, but continue to lis-
ten to trusted advisors as well. When you ask for
advice from someone capable of giving it, you
honor them. It also shows that your heart rules,
not your ego. It brings respect. Your courage in the
face of adversity is one of your strongest qualities
and greatly admired by others as well.

Cancer-May 21-June 21
Your strong belief in doing things right is a major
factor in your life and growth. It is an old-fash-
ioned value called conscience. When you get that
right feeling nothing can slow you down or stop
you in the pursuit of victory over life. You have an
awesome reservoir of love and desire to help oth-
ers. For this you deserve all of life's greatest
rewards.

BET BUT IND

00 SOMETGN

~ndav

Leo-July 23-Aug. 22
Your natural competitive spirit is always ready to
take on challenges your vision tells you to pursue.
Decisive action, quickly taken on top priorities cre-
ates positive results that leave more fearful souls
in the wake. Keep your eye on your main goals
Claim your higher good. Your judgment is strong.
Yours is a winning formula in the game called life.

Virgo-Aug. 23-Sept 22
You function best when you are doing what you
love. You are a high-hearted person. Sometimes it
is hard to deal with earthly matters but they too,
are a part of life. Your spiritual growth is bearing
fruit. You have many new friends. Stay focused on
your priorities. This strong inner focus is what
brings you the best in life. Bring it out and set it
free.

Libra-Sept. 23-Oct 22
You are a remarkable sign. You bring balance to
the rest of us and good judgment. You just know
instinctively what to say and do to help others
bridge their challenges. Your words are powerful

We're ielocating!
It's All Good!
is moving to 4989 S. Ridgewood Ave. in Port Orange
(formerly the Dutch Treat)
We will reopen in January 2008. Watch for more details.
2295 S. Ridgewood Ave., South Daytona
------------------------------I

INI ENITERIHNMENII

THEI CLUB SCENE

*Brooklyn Caff6 Panini:
The caf6 is searching for
young musicians and
singers to use the facility
for open mike nights.
Open-Mike Night is held
from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday.
All musicians and singers
may attend. All events are
held at 4649 Clyde Morris
Blvd., Unit 601, entrance
off of Herbert Street.
Admission is free. For more
information, call (386)
322-3306.
*Comedy Auction: This
event is held at 7 p.m. each
Tuesday at Peanuts
Restaurant and Sports Bar,
421 Flagler Ave., New
Smyrna Beach. For more
information, call (386)
423-1469.
*Daytona Blues Society
"True Blues" Live Jam:
This open jam session is
held from 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
each Wednesday at The
Bank & Blues Club, 701
Main St., Daytona Beach.
This nonprofit group is
dedicated to preserving
and spreading the love of
blues music. For more
information and a full

events schedule, visit the
Web site at www.Dayton-
aBluesSociety.org.
*Gryphon's Lark: "Flan-
ders" Matt Meehan per-
forms Celtic folk-rock each
Tuesday, Friday and Satur-
day, with various acts from
acoustic rock to blues,
Latin fusion and pop. Wine
& Dine is held each
Wednesday. Five tapas-
style appetizers are paired
with a 2-ounce pour of one
of the specialty wines for
$5 each. Trivia nights are
held at 9 p.m. each Thurs-
day, with prizes. "3 Divas
Night" is held the fourth
Thursday of each month.
On this night, in addition
to the regular menu,
guests may choose a pre-
fix dinner for two, includ-
ing four courses and a bot-
tle of wine for $50.
Reservations are suggest-
ed. A new Sunday brunch
and supper menu was
started recently. The
Gryphon's Lark is located
at 1185 W. Granada Blvd.,
Ormond Beach. For more
information, call (386)
673-1250.
*HotSpot Coffee Shoppe:

The featured artist will be
Bobby Meeks, award-win-
ning country singer, per-
forming from 7-10 p.m.,
Saturday, Jan. 19. There is
no cover charge. A music
and open mic event with
hosts Bob Wind and Char-
lie Poplees will be held
from noon to 3 p.m. each
Tuesday. Slow Circle Jam is
held from 7-9 p.m. each
Wednesday with Bob
Wind. Participants will
learn how jam; all instru-
ments are welcome.
Singer/guitarists Wes Mal-
one and Bob Wind host a
music and open mike
event from 7-11 p.m. each
Thursday and Friday.
There is no cover charge
for any event. For more
information, call (386)
236-0518 or visit the Web
site at www.hotspotcof-
feeshoppe.com.
*Mark River perform-
ance: Peanuts Restaurant
and Sports Bar, 421 Flagler
Ave., New Smyrna Beach,
presents this event at 8
p.m. each Wednesday. For
more information, call
(386) 423-1469.
*Ocean Deck: Tom Red-
mond and Morning Buzz
jams out at 9:30 p.m. each

Monday with classic rock
and other tunes. The
Caribbean Posse plays reg-
gae and island grooves
each Thursday, Friday, Sat-
urday and Sunday. Sunday
and Monday game time
drink and wing specials
will be available during
football season. Partici-
pants will get a chance to
win tickets to the Super
Bowl party. Vocalist Cia
and guitarist Brian will
perform at 6 p.m. each
Wednesday. Daily beer
specials are available. For
more information, visit the
Web site at www.Ocean-
Deck.com.
*Open Jam Night: Randy
Williams will lead. All
musicians and singers are
welcome to this event held
at 8 p.m. each Sunday at
Peanuts Restaurant and
Sports Bar, 421 Flagler
Ave., New Smyrna Beach.
For more information, call
(386) 423-1469.
*Pirates Performance:
Peanuts Restaurant and
Sports Bar, 421 Flagler
Ave., New Smyrna Beach,
presents this event at 8
p.m. each Thursday. For
more information, call
(386) 423-1469.

Out
From page BI
Fonisia Dorsey (played by
Sandy Zimbler). They discover
they both dislike the home and
enjoy gin rummy. The game
becomes a metaphor for life
when they reveal intimate
details of their lives as they
play. Their secrets become
caustic weapons used against
one another. Weller longs
futilely for just one victory to
counter a lifetime of defeats.
"The Gin Game" contains
mature language. Play dates
are at 8 p.m., Jan. 18-19 and
Jan. 24-26, and at 2 p.m., Jan.
20 and Jan. 27. Ticket prices
range from $10-$14. Student
night is Thursday, Jan. 24. For
more information and
reservations, call (386) 255-
243 1.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19

*Dinner and Dance event:
The Royal Palm Swing Band
will perform from 6-10 p.m. at
Hidden Lakes Golf Club, 35
Fairgreen Ave., New Smyrna
Beach. Music for dancing will
be available. The cost is $40
per person, which includes a
sit-down dinner prepared by
Chef David Luther with choice
of entree, vegetables, salad,
beverage and desserts. A cash
bar will be available. Master
Card and Visa will be accepted
for ticket payment. For tickets,
call (386) 424 2186; for more
information, call (386) 428
1228.
*Homegrown Roots
Jamboree: Local bands Secret
of Vessia, Dish and The Black
Rabbits will perform at The
Bank and Blues Club on Main
Street in Daytona Beach. Doors
open at 9 p.m. The cost is $5.
*Free performance: Country
singer Bobby Meeks will
perform a free two-hour show
from 7-9 p.m. at HotSpot
Coffee Shoppe, 1216 S.
Ridgewood Ave., Daytona
Beach. For more information,
call (386) 290-0251.
*The Aristocats Kids
performance: Children's

Musical Theater Workshop will
present this show at 1 p.m.
today and Sunday at the
Ormond Beach Performing Arts
Center. For tickets, call (386)
675-3375.
*Introduction to birding:
This event will be held at 10
a.m. with Marine Science
Center manager Michael
Brothers. He will introduce the
bird life of the area and how to
identify varieties of birds.
Nature trails, a boardwalk and
the observation tower will be
available while observing
osprey, eagles, terns, gulls and
gannets. Participants should
dress for any type of weather
and bring field guides and
binoculars. Participants will
meet on the Marine Science
Center back deck near Turtle
Terrace. Regular MSC admis-
sion applies, and registration is
required; call (386) 304-5545.
*New Year Celebration: This
event will be held from 6-8:30
p.m. at the Palmetto Club,
1000 S. Beach St., Daytona
Beach. The theme is
country/western. Tickets cost
$35 per person or $260 for a
table of 8. A cash bar, compli-
mentary wine, light buffet,
silent auction, chance draw-
ings, music and dancing will be
available. Dress is hoedown
casual. The event will benefit
the homeless children and
parents living at Family Renew
Community and the Extended
Family Follow Up Program for
successful graduates. For more
information, call (386) 239-
0861.
*Cruisin Destination
Daytona: Bruce Rossmeyer's
Destination Daytona will kick
off the New Year with muscle
cars as the featured car at the
event. Awards will be given to
the "Best Muscle Car Convert-
ible," "Best Muscle Car
Hardtop" and "Merchants
Choice," selected by the
Destination Daytonamer-
chants. Music will be available
at the Saints & Sinners Pub,
while DJ Frank Roberts spins
oldies at the other end of the
parking lot. A food court, the
Pig Stand Barbecue Restaurant
and Hooligan's Sports Bar will
be open. The shops of

Destination Daytona will be
open for business. Door prizes
also will be available, including
$100 gift certificates from
YearOne, Diamond Back Radial
Tires, Total Performance, Doc's
Kustom in Ormond Beach and
merchandise awards from the
merchants of Destination *
Daytona. Admission is free. The
action starts at 3 p.m. and lasts
until it is over. Destination
Daytona is located at Interstate
95 and U.S. 1 (Exit 273) in
Ormond Beach. For more
information, call (386) 671-
7103.
*Jail & Bail: American Legion
Post 270 Ladies Auxiliary will
host this event at 5 p.m. at 119
Howes St., Port Orange. A
sheriff and judge will attend.
The them is country/western
with burgers, chili and corn-
bread. Music also will be
available. For more informa-
tion, call (386) 788-6800.

SUNDAY, JAN. 20

*'First Lady of the Organ':
Our Lady of Hope Catholic
Church Music Ministry and
Dunne Music will present
Diane Bish in concert at 3:30
p.m. at Our Lady of Hope
Catholic Church, 4675 S. Clyde
Morris Blvd., Port Orange.
Admission is $10 per person to
benefit the Halifax AIDS
Ministry. Tickets will be
available in advance and at the
door on the day of the concert.
Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. A
"Meet the Artist Reception" will
follow the concert in the Parish
Center. For more information,
call (386) 788-6144, Ext 314.
*Movies With A Message:
This event is held at 6:30 p.m.
each Sunday at the United
Church of Christ, 203 Washing-
ton St., New Smyrna Beach,
hosted by the Volusia Peace-
Center. Movies are free to the
public. On Jan. 20, "An
Inconvenient Truth (2006
documentary, 100 minutes)
will be shown. Director Davis
Guggenheim weaves the
science of global warming with
Al Gore's personal history and

I See OUT, B4

NNG a ENIEHM NI

Y

UHM UHM GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!..............
THAT IS THE FEELING YOU GET
WHEN YOU EAT AT
MARIACHI RESTAURANT.

A FINE AUTHENTIC SPANISH AND
MEXICAN RESTAURANT AT VERY
REASONABLE PRICES.

Just what Daytona has been waiting for,
come and join us for Lunch, Dinner
or Sunday Brunch

Out
From page B3
commitment to reversing the
effects of global climate
change. Mr. Gore presents a
wide array of facts and
information in a thoughtful and
compelling way. "An Inconve-
nient Truth" is not a story of
despair but rather a rallying cry
to protect the one earth we all
share. Discussion on social
issues will be held after the
movie. For more information,

PtfnT022S[

2 for 1 Cocktails from 5pm-7pm
NFL Sunday Ticket on Sunday
with draft and buffet specials
Monday night football $15
all you can drink draft and buffet
C o #

birthday celebration: An MLK
Breakfast will be held from 7-9
a.m. at the Allen Chapel AME
Church located on 580 George
Engram Blvd. The breakfast is
free to the public with limited
seating. A Commemorative
March will be held from 10-11
a.m., leaving from the Allen
Chapel AME Church. The
march is open to the public. A
worship service will be held at
11 a.m. at the Allen Chapel
AME Church. The featured
speaker will be the new pastor
of Allen Chapel AME Church,
the Rev. Nathan M. Mugala. The

Friday at 9:00pmn
Saturday at, 8:00pm and 10:00pm
Your Favorite Comics from 1I1O,
Cinema, Showtime, Comedy Central,
USA and Much More!!
Late nitIht, happy hour after the show
on Friday and Saturday-
Tickets $8 in advance* or $10 at the door
*Advance tickets available at the LaPlaya front desk until noon on Friday, or at check-in.
Re.'IIiM 3667-09

public may attend. For more
information or to sign up to
participate in the Commemo-
rative March, call (386) 679-
6520.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22

*MOAS Preschool: I Want to
be a Sculptor: This event will
be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
for children ages 4-6 at the
Museum of Arts & Sciences,
352 S. Nova Road, Daytona
Beach. Children will visit the
MOAS collection of sculptures
and create crazy and wacky
sculptures. The cost is $10 for
members and $15 for non-
members. Reservations are
required; call (386) 255-0285.
Also a curatorial/staff presenta-
tion will be held at 1 p.m.
Executive director emeritus
Gary R. Libby will present the
gallery "Great Masters of Cuban
Art: 1800-1958." This event is
free to members or with paid
admission.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23

*Museum Lecture: "Buddhist
Art and Culture in Tibet: An
Academic and Historical
Perspective" will be featured at
7 p.m. in the Mori Hosseini
Center (Building 1200) on the
Daytona College campus. The
lecture is in conjunction with
"The Path To Buddha Steve
McCurry," which examines the
Buddhist religion and captures
Tibetan Buddhist monks in
animated discussion, medita-
tion and prayer. For more
information, visit the Web site
at www.smponline.org or call
(386) 506-4475.
*Homegrown Roots
Jamboree: Local bands The
Transfers and SOL will perform
at Beachside Tavern in New
Smyrna Beach. Doors open at
9 p.m. The show is free.
*Ventriloquist Extraordi-
naire: The Friends of the Port
Orange Regional Library will
present ventriloquist Jan Potter
at 2 p.m. at the library, 1005
City Center Circle. For more
information, call (386) 322-
5152, Ext. 2, or visit the Web
site at www.vcpl.lib.fl.us.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24

*Card Party/Spaghetti
Luncheon: This event will be
held at 11:30 a.m. at Epiphany
Father Smith Hall, 201
Lafayette St., Port Orange.
Proceeds will benefit abused
women/children, sponsored by
the Council of Catholic Women.
For more information, call
(386) 304-51 00.
*Law Enforcement Appreci-
ation Night: The Volusia
County Chapter of Mothers
Against Drunk Driving will host
this event at 6:30 p.m. at the
Palmetto Club, 1000 Palmetto
Ave., Daytona Beach. Selected
officers will be awarded DUI
Enforcement Officer of the

Year.
*Port Orange Lions Club
one-year anniversary: This
gala event will be held at the
Golf Club at Cypress Head in
Port Orange. The cost per
person is $19.95, which
includes tax and tip. A social
hour will be held from 5-6 p.m.
and dinner will be served at
6:15 p.m. The meal will be
buffet style and consist of
garden salad, whipped
potatoes, saute vegetables,
beef tips in gravy, chicken
piccatta, hot rolls and a dessert
bar. Plans for the year will be
discussed. Checks must be
made out to the Port Orange
Lions Club and sent to Robert
Devine, 5899 Plainview Drive,
Port Orange, FL 32127. For
more information, call (386)
756-1274.

ONGOING EVENTS

*A Taste of Wines: Port Royal
Caribbean Restaurant will host
this event at 6:30 p.m. the
second Wednesday of each
month inside Pirates Cove
Resort, 3501 S. Atlantic Ave.,
Daytona Beach Shores. During
this semi-formal gathering,
four-course meals will be
served with wines that
complement each course. A
wine expert will teach facts
about each wine. Reservations
are required, and guests must
be 21 years old. The cost is $30
per person. Proceeds will
benefit the Children's Home
Society. To make reservations,
call (386) 788-3922.
*Atlantic Center for the Arts:
The exhibition "Breaking
Boundaries: Exploration and.
Collaboration at Atlantic Center
for the Arts" will be on display
through March 22. An opening
reception will be held at 7 p.m.,
Friday, Jan. 25, at Pabst Visitor
Center & Gallery, 1414 Art
Center Ave., New Smyrna
Beach. ACA executive director
Ann Brady will present
highlights from the 30th year
and gives a sneak peek into
2008 events and programs.
This event is free to the public.
In 1997, a portfolio of original,
signed works by former master
artists in residence was
amassed to commemorate the
20th anniversary of the
founding of Atlantic Center for
the Arts. The portfolio's theme,
"Breaking Boundaries,"
reflected the creative process.
The collection, which grows as
the roster of artists-in-residence
grows, now includes more
than 150 works of art ranging
from musical scores and
recordings to audio poems and
dance videos, from edited
manuscripts and photographs
to sketches and studies. Judith
Page, exhibition curator,
selected 50 works for the
national tour. Gallery hours are
from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, and from 10
a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday. For more

information, call (386) 427-
6975 or visit the Web site at
www.atlanticcenterforthearts.or
g.
*Artists' Workshop of New
Smyrna Beach: The exhibit 'Art
Town U.SA Artists' Workshop
50th Anniversary' will be on
display through Jan. 27. This
exhibit celebrates the 50th
anniversary year. Artists'
Workshop members paint the
many aspects of New Smyrna
Beach as they see them -
architecture of familiar places,
beach, landscape, boats,
historic or nostalgic images of
the home town. Gallery hours
are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, at 115
Canal St. For more information,
call (386) 424-0254 or visit the
Web site at www.artistswork-
shopinc.com.
*Bingo: Members meet to
play bingo at 7 p.m. each Friday
at the Daytona Beach Elks
Club, 700 S. Ridgewood Ave.
Food will be served. For more
information, call (386) 252-
335Z Port Orange Elks Lodge
2723 has Bingo at 6:30 p.m.
each Monday and at 11:30 a.m.
each Friday. Early birds, pull
tabs and a menu are available.
Smoking is prohibited. For
more information, call (386)
767-8572. Bingo will be played
at noon at the new building
and banquet hall at the Port
Orange Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 3282, 5810
Williamson Blvd. This is a no
smoking event, and doors will
be open at 10 p.m. The public
may attend this weekly event.
For more information, call
(386) 761-7217
*Breakfast Buffet: The
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
4250 Ladies Auxiliary will serve
a breakfast buffet from 8-11
a.m. each Sunday at 2350
Sunset Drive, New Smyrna
Beach. The breakfast is all-you-
can-eat. For more information,
call (386) 423-1789.
*Bunko, Bridge and Poker:
New groups are starting at the
Port Orange Adults Center,
4790 Ridgewood Ave. Resi-
dents meet at 4 p.m. each
Friday to play games. For more
information, call (386) 761-
7633.
*Card and game playing:
Space is available from 1-4
p.m. each Monday and from 1-
3 p.m. each Thursday at the
Piggotte Community Center in
South Daytona. The public may
attend and should bring cards
and games. Admission is free.
For more information, call
(386) 322-3070.
*Dance on Thursday Nights:
Everything from ballroom
dance to doing the YMCA will
be on tap for dancing at 6:30
p.m. each Thursday at the
Brannon Center, 105 S.
Riverside Drive in New Smyrna
Beach. Gary Colombo is the go-
to guy in the music department
I See OUT, B5

Of eak~~fatSrellDySa&Su
Breafas E peihls

TIKI BAR

ft G-**il

INFARIVOK:

www.HometownNewsOL.com

Port Orange/Ponce Inlet
So Daytona/Daytona Beach Shores

rruiay, jaualy 10d, .uu -.... -i... ----.

I N II [i mH IMI

AN ARTIST'S TOUCH

Cuba
From page B1

magazine. A guide to pic-
tures with thumbnails of
the images and informa-
tive captions completes
the book.
Ramiro Fernandez was
born in Havana to a fami-
ly involved in the phar-
maceutical industry. He
left Cuba in 1960, settling
first in Palm Beach Coun-
ty and then in New York,
where he was a photogra-
phy editor at Time Inc. for
25 years. He was involved
in the launches of Enter-

tainment Weekly and Peo-
ple en Espafiol magazines
and worked at Sports
Illustrated and People. As
a witness to the revolu-
tion in his youth, Mr. Fer-
nandez's passion has
been to build a photogra-
phy collection that can
serve as a testament to
the Cuba he remembers.
He began collecting pho-
tographs in 1981, 'and
today the collection num-
bers more than 3,000
works.

The exhibit "Great Mas-
ters of Cuban Art: 1800 to
1958," one of the largest
collections of pre-revolu-
tion Cuban paintings in
the free world, is current-
ly on display.
This event is free with
paid admission.
MOAS is located at 352
S. Nova Road, Daytona
Beach.
For more information,
call (386) 255-0285 or visit
the Web site at
www.moas.org.

Randy Barber/staff photographer
Artist and Director of The Art League of Daytona Beach Amelie Rogers gives an oil paint-
ing demo in the gallery of The Art League of Daytona Beach. Rogers teaches a classical
landscape oil painting class on Wednesdays at The Art league of Daytona.

Out
From page B4
and Gretchen is the hostess.
Refreshments will be served
and door prizes awarded.
Tickets cost $5 at the door. For
more information, call (386)
424-2280.
*Fish Dinner: The Port
Orange Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 3282, 5810
Williamson Blvd., will host this
fried or baked fish dinner from
5-7:30 p.m. each Friday. Music
will be provided from 5:30-9
p.m. The cost is $6.50. The
public may attend. For more
information, call (386) 761-
7217
*Frappes North: Wine
tastings are held each month

on a Tuesday, begin Feb. 5.
"Fabulous Finger Foods" will be
provided to compliment all
vintages. The cost is $15 per
person. The restaurant is
located at 123 W. Granada
Blvd. in Ormond Beach.
Organically Groovy Cooking
School will be held from 10
a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19.
This class will sharpen skills
and confidence for entertaining
at home with Chef Bobby. The
cost is $90 per student, which
includes recipes and take-
home goods. Limited space,
reserve early. Reservations are
appreciated; call (386) 615-
4888. For more information,
visit the Web site at
www.frappesnorth.com.
*Gamble Place Tours: Tours
are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.,
Thursday through Sunday, at

1819 Taylor Road, Port Orange.
Admission is $5 for adults and
$3 for students; children 5 and
younger are free. Members of
the Museum of Arts and
Science are free, too. For more
information, call (386) 304-
0778.
*Interfaith Theology Club:
"Reclaiming the World," the
second part of the seven-
session "Living the Questions"
discussion course, is held at 3
p.m. each Wednesday at
Coronado Community Union
Methodist Church and will run
through Feb 20. Each week,
the LtQ2 course presents a 20-
minute video of short clips of
top religious leaders and
scholars. Examples are
Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg,

I See OUT, B7

Star Scopes
From page BI

and strong. The New Year will
bring new opportunities to
learn, serve and grow. You
have strong guidelines in life.
Expect positive results.

Scorpio-Oct. 23-Nov.21
At the last minute, when all
seems lost, things just seem
to work out for you. The past
few months have tested your
faith. If you just persevere a
little more you will be
rewarded for your patience
and time. Your understanding
and use of spiritual and uni-
versal laws is serving you
well. You are a blessing and
light to others. They grow
from your example.

Sagittarius-Nov. 22-Dec. 21
As Venus continues in Sagit-
tarius, your emotional edge
continues to boost you in
your pursuits. It gives you a
broader view of possibilities
and a wider course of action.
This edge, along with your
natural strong instincts, will
result in favorable outcomes.
Your strong decisive nature
leaves little to chance and is
the primary reason you excel.

Capricorn-Dec. 22-Jan 19
Live each day like there is no
tomorrow and make the best
of what you have been given.
This is the most reliable way
to insure that more will
always be on the way. When
you see the good in others
and affirm it, they see it in
you as well. This is the true
meaning of life and one of
your most priceless posses-
sions. Believe this in your
heart and so it will be.

Aquarius-Jan. 20-Feb.18
The moon, Mercury and Nep-
tune in Aquarius gives you a
super New Year's boost in
energy. This causes life to go
so well that occasional chal-
lenges are met with ease.
Why, because you plan
ahead, but live a day at a
time. This is strong medicine.
It gives hope to those around
you and says that if you can
good it, we can do it. You are
a great leader.

Pisces-Feb. 19-March 20
Your love of life, nature and
the universe is evident in the
increased happiness of
recent months. You are at

your best when you set lofty
goals and work steadily to
bring them into reality. You
are never content with medi-
ocrity. You were born to
excel. Your cup will soon be
overflowing with new oppor-
tunities and adventures. Are
you ready to take action?

Star visions

This column is on the Web at
w w w
myhometownnews.net. Click
on Star Scopes. For a person-
alized astrology or compati-
bility chart e, call (772) 334-
9487 or e-mail
jtuckxyz@aol.com for details.
I will be doing readings Jan.
18 to Feb. 3 in Exhibit Hall 9
at the South Florida Fair,
9067 Southern Blvd., West
Palm Beach. Would love to
see you there. Have a starry
week everyone.

BY ANITA BEVINS
Sports writer
New coaching staff, few
returning players.
No worries for Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical Univer-
sity's baseball program.
The Eagles embark on
their first preseason outing
with a No. 15 National Asso-
ciation of Intercollegiate
Athletics ranking and a new
philosophy.
"We try to do more of a
pro ball mentality," head
coach Randy Stegall said. "I
like to hit and let my guys
have the freedom to hit and
work their way out of situa-
tions. I think it is actually
kind of good to lose a little
bit in the beginning of the
year. Sometimes it's nice to
get your brains beat in the
first couple of weeks. That
way you know where you
stand and where you are
going."
Not that Stegall intends to
do much losing. ERAU built
a strong winning tradition
under former head coach

Greg Guilliams, with top
five finishes in the NAIA
national poll, nine regional
tournaments and six NAIA
World Series berths.
But this year could be a
challenge. ERAU's roster is
heavy on underclassmen,
transfer students, and
unknowns.
"We are only returning
two pitchers who have
pitched significant innings
and four or five guys who
played a lot last year," Ste-
gall said. "Offensively, the
No. 1 guy is a local from
Mainland, Colin Gray. He
hit close to .400 last year,
and he is our top hitter. He
has an injury now, but
hopefully it will be better.
Kyle Albright from the
Tampa area hit (.348).
Those two guys led the team
last year in RBIs (54 and 50).
"Chris Maloney, a left-
handed pitcher, was 9-1 last
year. He and Jordan Roberts
(10-4 last year), another left-
hander will be our horses.
Freshman Robbie Flynn
from Ocoee did really well in

the fall and Tucker Jensen,
another kid from Seabreeze,
will also pitch."
With no fall games, Stegall
has only seen most of his
players in practice, so he is
unsure who will perform
well in game situations. The
exception is senior Eric

Ogden, who played for Ste-
gall last year at Indiana
Tech.
"He's a catcher who was
an NAIA honorable mention
All-American," Stegall said.
"He hit 12 home runs and 65

BY ANITA BEVINS
Sports writer
After the last FASCAR
competition of the 2007
season at New Smyrna
Speedway, six division
champions had their
moment under the bright
lights.
Problem was, there were
actually seven division
champions. And Super
Stock champ Michael Wof-
ford was left in the shadows.
"New Smyrna Speedway
neglected to recognize
him," Wofford's girlfriend,
Erin Hart, said. "During the
last race, other point cham-
pions had the honor of
being announced and were

able to drive around the
track with the winner's
checker flag. They never
mentioned Michael."
"All year long they wanted
to push me under the bus as
much as possible, but after
somebody is upfront all
season, you can't push them
under the bus," Wofford
said.
The 39-year-old Wofford
will get his full due Saturday
night during the annual
awards banquet at the
Shores Spa and Resort's Bill
France Grand Ballroom. But
he is still a little bit in the
dark about the size of the
check and the trophy he will
receive.
"I would say it is probably
four or five feet tall," Wof-
ford guessed about the tro-
phy. "But honestly I have no
idea. I know there is sup-
posed to be a payout, but I
don't know how much it is
supposed to be. No one has
told me anything."
What Wofford does know
is how to turn left. He has
run Strictly Stock and Super
Stock at NSS since 2002. He
is the car owner, sponsor,
chief mechanic and crew
chief for his entries.
"The is my first year win-
ning a championship, but I
have always been a top
competitor out there," Wof-
) See CHAMPS, B7

20% OFF
200 Sq. Ft. or More
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase.
Offer expires 2/28/08.
L-- -----------------------------

ford said. This year, I could-
n't give you absolute statis-
tics, but I would say that 95
percent of my races I fin-
ished in the top five. I had
four wins. I never had a lick
of a problem. I missed all of
the big wrecks until the very
last race of the season,
which was after the points
race. I got tangled up in one.
But I had a very consistent
year."
Six other drivers will be
honored for their consisten-
cy on the track at Saturday's
banquet. Division winners

include Tim Russell in
Super Late Model, David
Gibbs in Late Model, Matt
Wheeler in Open Wheel
Modified, Phil Luizzo in
Sportsman, Ted Vulpius in
Mini Stock and Brent
Bruner in Strictly Stock.
New Smyrna Speedway
will host the World Series of
Asphalt Stock Car Racing
Feb. 8-16. The 2008 FASCAR
regular season begins
March 15.

bevins@hometownnew-
sol.comrn

Ranked
From page B6

RBIs at .350. He came in to
solve the catching situation,
and he will be a nice player
for us, hopefully."
A handful of ERAU players
will attend the Florida Sun
Conference Showcase in
Babson Park Saturday.
Jan. 22, the Eagles will

host Daytona Beach Com-
munity College in an exhibi-
tion game at 3 p.m. The reg-
ular season begins Jan. 29
with a home game against
Florida College.

bevins@hometownnew-
sol.corn

Out
From page B5

Helen Prejean and Matthew
Fox. The course is for Christians
who may have questions
about religion and revolves
around subjects talked about
at seminaries. The course is
free to the public.
*Laser Rock Concerts: The
Museum of Arts & Sciences will
present "LASERETRO," rock
music from the 1980s, through
Jan. 19. "LASERMAGIC," pop
music hits by various artists,
will be shown from Jan. 20-26.
Daily admission is $4 for adults
and $3 for children. On
Saturday evening, the show is
$5 per show or $7 for the
double feature. A cash bar and
snacks are available at the
Saturday evening shows and
refreshments are in the
planetarium. For more
information, call (386) 255-
0285 or visit the Web site at
www.moas.org.
.*Meatballs are optional: A
spaghetti dinner is held from
4:30-6:30 p.m. each Thursday

at the American Legion Post 17,
619 W. Canal St., New Smyrna
Beach. The meal includes
spaghetti, with or without
meatballs, salad and garlic
bread. Tickets are $4.50 and
$5.50. The public may attend.
For more information, call
(386) 427-5013.
*Music for Healing: Spon-
sored by the Port Orange
Ministerial Association, "Music
for Healing: Body, Mind and
Spirit" is offered each Wednes-
day from 12:15-12:45 p.m. at
the All Saints Lutheran Church,
751 Dunlawton Ave., Port
Orange. Musicians from local
churches and schools present
instrumental music for
peaceful contemplation,
reflection, self-care and
meditation. At the Jan. 23
meeting, Beverly McCollister
will provide the music. This will
be the group's third anniver-
sary. The public may attend. For
more information, call (386)
716-9129.

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HOMETOWN NEWS!!!!

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ARE YOU DRIVING YOUR CAREER
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Come work with the Professionals.
We are looking for motivated and customer oriented individuals
with a positive attitude and desire to succeed!

S&S is dedicated to serving you in all your computer needs. We offer a
wide range of products and services from New and Used Systems to
onsite repairs on most major brands of computers. Call us today for all
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MORTGAGE PROB-
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How the program works:
Traditional Real Estate Offices list properties for sale and negotiate a set % of the sales price as their commission.
At the close of escrow, the commission is divided between the listing office and the selling office.

The innovative Help-U-SelP SmartBuysl Buyers Program offers buyers an opportunity to save thousands of dollars when partnering
with Help-U-Sell real estate agents to purchase a home listed on the MLS,

When a certified Help-U-Sel@l SmartBuySM agent helps you find your next home, at least 20% of the commission normally paid to
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To see our listings along with all of the MLS listings log on to:
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